Tegernsee

A Benedictine abbey was founded on the lake around 746 and became a centre of learning and manuscript production; the Ruodlieb, an early Latin verse romance, was written here. After secularisation in 1803 the buildings passed to the Bavarian royal family, who used them as a summer residence, and part became a brewery that still operates in the former monastery with a large beer hall. The lake itself is about six kilometres long with steep wooded slopes and the Wallberg rising to 1,722 metres on the eastern side, reached by cable car. Passenger boats link the shore towns through the season.

History

Recorded history here begins with the arrival of the Bavarians in the sixth century AD, under the Agilolfing dukes, and in 746 the brothers Adalbert and Ottokar of the Huosi family founded the Benedictine abbey; the name comes from the Old High German tegarin seo, "large lake", and relics of St Quirinus were brought from Rome in the eighth century. Much early history was lost in the Magyar raids of the tenth century, and in its sheltered position the valley suffered less than most of Bavaria, though it was struck by plague in the Thirty Years' War. The abbey was secularised in 1803 and bought by the Wittelsbachs as their summer residence, bringing court life and visitors and starting the tourism of today (Wikipedia, Tegernsee).

The landscape

• The monastery brewery - beer produced in a former abbey and royal residence.
• The Wallberg - a 1,722-metre summit by cable car above the lake.
• The lake boats - passenger services linking the shore towns.
• The abbey church - a baroque interior in the former monastic complex.

When to go

May to October for boats and walking; winter brings tobogganing on the Wallberg and skating in hard years. Summer weekends bring Munich day traffic.

Things to know

The area is expensive and busy with weekend visitors from Munich. Parking near the shore is limited and paid. The cable car closes in high wind.

Nearby

Schliersee lies east; Bad Tölz is west.